INFRASTRUCTURE

21 ST CENTURY ENERGY DEMANDS INFRASTRUCTURE 38 AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Florida’s coastal communities are battling unprecedented flooding of their urban fabric which is driving seawater into the fresh water aquifers and exposing the vulnerability of the states aging flood-control systems. Predictions for asset losses in South Florida are estimated to reach over 30 billion dollars by the mid-21st century. Experts believe that these losses could be greatly mitigated if governments and the private sector increase community resilience by managing risks and building resilient infrastructure. Cities need to rethink their systems on a city scale to discover design opportunities within infrastructural vulnerabilities. The need to re-engineer water resource adaptation strategies can be an opportunity for new community developments. Response to the impact of the growing population of Florida and subsequent energy demands expected by 2100 requires innovative alternatives in energy generation.